Pipe conditioner



May 24, 1955 J. E. STEERE I PIPE CONDITIONER Filed June 22, 1950 INVENTOR.

JOHN E. STEERE ATTORNEY PIPE CONDITIONER John E. Steere, Hollywood, Calif.

Application June 22, 1950, Serial No. 169,600

1 Claim. (Cl. 131-183) This invention relates to a device for tobacco-smoking pipes which, inserted in the bowl of the pipe preparatory to loading it with tobacco, remains in place during the smoking of the loaded tobacco. The device may be manipulated before the tobacco is entirely consumed, or

after the load of tobacco is entirely used up, or a fresh supply is desired, or the device may be left in place without manipulation not only during the smoking of a particular bowlful but after repeated refills.

It is an old practice to place a perforated disc, such as an ordinary button or a specially designed one, deep in the bowl of the pipe and close to the heel thereof. A perforated disc soon becomes clogged and fouled with carbon and tarry substance and difficult and messy to clean or to remove from the bowl in which it had been forced due to the incrustation on the inside wall of the bowl above the frictionally-held disc.

In this invention, an extension is made integral with the disc, the entire device being formed from one piece, and is made of substantial body width, particularly at the juncture with the disc. Hence the disc will not be bent downwardly at the juncture when the tobacco is being tamped down or when it is sought to withdraw the disc by means of the extension. The disc is retained in place not only by the sturdy extension, but by the cooperation of a short leg, or a pair of such legs, disposed diametrically opposite to the long extension. The device is fabricated from resilient metal sheet, and the short leg is bent away from the extension preparatory to inserting in a pipe, so that in forcing the device into the bowl, the leg and extension are in frictional engagement with the sides thereof.

The afore-described cooperation between the leg and extension also serves to retain the device in place against accidentally falling out. The metal sheet is not only resilient but is light-gauge so that the leg may be readily bent at selective angles relative to the disc for adjustment to pipes of varying inside bowl diameter.

The device is provided with peripherai cutting fiutes which serve to clean the sides of the bowl every time that the device is manipulated.

By blowing through the stem of the pipe the peripheral flutes set up a centrifugal flow of air about the walls of the bowl which immediately rekindles a slow fire at the center of the bowl by causing the fire to burn more rapidly towards the edge.

Air communication is afforded through peripheral and other edge recesses, which can be easily cleaned by passing the edge of cardboard or stiff paper through the recesses. The aforesaid peripheral flutes for cleaning the bowl and the peripheral air passages are provided by the identical structural arrangement.

In another form of the invention the platform disc is rotatively mounted on a strip which extends between the aforesaid handle extension and the retainer leg, so that by turning the disc relative to the strip, the side edges of the latter scrape off the top of the disc and clear the peripheral recesses.

United States Patent 0 Other objects of this invention have to do with an innovation in pipe devices of the character described, Wherebv air for combustion is conducted directly to the successive levels of combustion as the bowl of tobacco is being consumed. This innovation has a number of very desirable results; in the first place, the tobacco will remain lit and burn for a longer period without drawing on the pipe, thus obviating a very real objection to pipe smoking, namely the constant need of re-lighting. A second result of the proposed innovation is that the underlying tobacco remains dry, so that the entire bowlful can be smoked without waste.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a pipe device which will achieve the foregoing purposes and which at the same time can be easily, readily, and without mess, removed entirely from the bowl for emptying the ashes preparatory to reloading, for cleaning, etc. The device may, by the same implements, be raised upwardly in the bowl, i. e., not entirely removed therefrom, so that the ashes will be loosened and elevated to the mouth of the bowl and dumped out by simply turning the pipe, without knocking the pipe against an object or using sharp instruments to pry the ashes out.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side view of the pipe device in position in the bowl of a-pipe shown in sectional elevation;

Fig. 1A is a view in elevation of the device itself, as it would appear just before insertion into the pipe bowl of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the device of Fig. 1 and Fig. 1A;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the device on substantially the same scale as Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top View of a modified form in which a pair of retainer legs are provided;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, showing a detail on enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the upper portion of the extension handle, on enlarged scale, showing a modified form of air channels;

Fig. 7 is a front view of the extension handle of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a side view of a modified form in which the disc is rotatively mounted;

Fig. 9 is a top view of the device of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view of a device similar to Fig. 8 but implemented with the filter-retaining provision, and showing a filter plug in place of the platform disc of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a side view of the device showing an alternative form of filter retainer; and

Fig. 12 is a front view of a device having the filter retainer of Fig. 11 together with the retainer leg 30 of previous figures.

The improved device of this invention is stamped from continuous metal strip of any desirable metal or alloy of relatively thin gauge. As already mentioned in the statement of invention, the metal is slightly resilient and capable, because of the light gauge, of being readily bent by the fingers. The device comprises a disc or platform 10, an extension or handle 20, and a leg or retainer 30. The diameter of platform disc 10 is such that the disc will be receivable within a wide range of bowl sizes.

The upper end of extension 20 is bent away from the disc, at a right angle to form the overhang 21, which, when the device is placed in the bowl 9 of a pipe, Fig. 1, will rest on the upper edge 8 of wall 7 of the bowl. The distance from overhang 21 of extension 20 to its juncture 29 with disc or platform 10 is such that platform 10 will be somewhat above the heel 6 of the pipe which is the space near the floor of the bowl into which the bore 5 of the stem 4 enters. I

The retainer leg 30, which is preferably narrower than extension or handle 20, see Figs. 2 and 3, is diametrically opposite extension 20, Fig. 3. Retainer leg 30 is considerably shorter than handle extension 20, and its distal end is preferably coiled, as shown, to present a rounded end 31, to avoid sharp edges which might scratch the inside wall of the bowl. The coil 31 may be turned out wardly as shown in Fig. l or the coil may be turned inwardly. Instead of a coiled end, the upper end portion may be turned inwardly, as shown at 56, Fig. 8, to provide a bend 57.

Fig. 1A shows the device of Fig. l as it would appear just prior to insertion into the pipe bowl of Fig. 1. It will be noted from the device in its position before being inserted into the bowl that its retainer leg 30 is bent away from disc 10 so that the distance X between the distal end 31 of the leg and extension 20 is somewhat greater than the inside bowl diameter Y. Hence in forcing the device. with the increased distance X into the pipe whose bowl diameter is Y, the distal end of leg 30 as well as the entire length of extension 20 press against the bowl wall to retain the device in place. by the fingers to various angular extents depending upon the particular bowl diameter.

I have found that by employing two retainer legs 30 3%, as shown in Fig. 4, both on the side of the disc opposite handle extension 24 a somewhat firmer anchorage is provided for the device, inasmuch as this form constitutes a three-point support, viz. at handle extension 20 and at the two retainer legs 30 30*. Moreover, I have found this form to be easier to remove from the bowl, especiaily because it overcomes any tendency of the disc to tilt.

It is best seen from Fig. 2 that the extension or handle 20 is made of substantial width so that a juncture 29, see also Fig. 3, of substantial extent is provided between extension 29 and disc 10, to assure against downward bending of disc 10 which is also supported at the opposite diametrical side by retainer leg 30.

As best seen in Fig. l, the distal end of overhang 21 is bent downwardly to provide a lip 22, which is readily engaged by the fingernail for initial upward movement of the device outwardly of engaged position within the bowl. After a small portion of handle extension 29 has thus been projected above the top edge 8 of the bowl, that projected portion together with the overhang 21 can be conveniently grasped between thumb and finger to lift the device bodily out of the bowl.

Instead of providing the lip 22, Fig. 1, the overhang may be coiled inwardly at its distal end, as shown in Fig. 8, where overhang 53 is provided with the turned-in coil 5"? or bead which rests on upper edge 8 of bowl wall 7. Bead 57 raises overhang 53 a short distance above bowl edge 3 to provide a space for the fingernails to enter to pry the device out of the pipe. In this case (Fig. 8) no part of the overhang extends beyond the bowl wall, so that no projection is presented which might be accidentally engaged to pull the device out of the pipe.

Air communication is afforded to the heel 6 and bore 5 of the pipe, through a plurality of peripheral recesses 11. Eight such peripheral recesses 11 are shown in Fig. 3 but this is merely for illustrative purposes, as the number may be more or less than shown. Peripheral recesses 11 are readily cleaned by merely passing the edge of a piece of cardboard or stiff paper through them.

Peripheral recesses 11 serve a further function, viz., in providing cutting or reamer edges for cleaning the inside wall of the bowl. The sector portions 12 between adjacent recesses 11 are twisted out of the plane of the base of disc 10, thus providing inclined circumferential cutting edges 13, see Fig. l, the ends of which present sharp points 14 which are alternately above and below the plane of the base of disc 10.

Instead of providing recesses 11 involving the removal of metal at these points, Fig. 3, the disc may merely be incised as shown in Fig. 4 wherein a plurality of small apertures 18 are provided about a circle concentric to the The retainer leg 30 is readily bent peripheral edge of disc 10. The peripheral portion of the disc, from apertures 13 to the circumference thereof, has incisions 19. The sectors 12 between incisions 19 are twisted to form the cutters and air flutes.

The handle extension 20 also functions in supplying air at successive levels of the combustion zone. For this purpose, extension 20 is slightly convexed outwardly, see detail, Fig. 5, to provide a small vertically-directed air passage 15.

It should be noted that such outward convexity reinforces handle extension 20.

Air passage 15 runs vertically throughout the length of extension 20, except that at juncture 29 between extension 20 and disc 10 no convexity is imparted to extension 2%) so that the air passage is restricted at its lower end. However, this end is not entirely restricted, by reason of the fact that the juncture 29 is substantially rectilinear and forms a chord with the circumferential bowl wall, or rather a small segment. Thus a small part of the air is drawn past juncture 29 into the heel of the pipe where it has a beneficial aerating effect which does much to assure a dry and cooler smoke.

At the upper end of extension 20 and at its juncture with overhang 21 is provided a centrally-disposed opening 23 directly at the upper end of air passage 15. Both edges of extension 20 have a plurality of spaced notches 25, which may be staggered so that a notch 25 will occur at one edge or the other, at short intervals along the length of extension 20. Instead of edge notches, which form serrated edges, the arched portion of the outwardly convex handle extension 20 may be provided with a plurality of elongated slots, such as 25 Fig. 12. Such slots and notches provide communication with the central air passage at spaced points, and may be readily cleaned by running the edge of a card or stiff paper along them.

It will thus be seen that equally spaced air communication vents 25, to the air passage 15 within extension handle 20, are provided for the full length of extension 20; that is, at various levels of the tobacco within the bowl, from platform 10 to the mouth thereof. Suction at stem bore 5 and heel 6 will cause a downward draft of air entering opening 23 or through one or more of the notches 25, through the layer of tobacco to reach heel 6 through the peripheral recesses 11 of disc 18.

Instead of providing communication to the air passage 15 within handle extension 20 by means of peripheral notches 25, a modified form may be employed, as in Figs. 67, in which serrated edges are avoided. in this form air communication to the central air passage 15 running longitudinally of handle extension 20 is in the form of lateral channels 46 extending from the central longitudinal axis of handle 20 to both edges thereof and are in inclined, herringbone style, as shown in Fig. 7.

The channel formation (see Fig. 5) which provides for air passage 15 is continued in Figs. 6-7 along the overhang 21', where an entrance 44 into air passage 15 is provided at the distal end of overhang 21'. The channel formation of overhang 21' thus avoids the need of an opening, such as 23, Fig. 2, at the juncture of handle extension 20 and overhang 21'.

The device may be removed bodily from the bowl in order to dump all the ashes and tobacco resting above the platform disc. Or the device may be partially removed or elevated to bring the layer of ashes at the mouth of the bowl, so that such ashes are readily dumped by simply turning the pipe over to discharge it. The device may be used without either partial or entire withdrawal from the bowl. For example, the handle 20 may be moved up and down or turned through a small angle 2 back and forth, or manipulated in other ways for the relative movement of cutters 13 of the disc, so that the accumulation of a hardened incrustation is prevented from getting started.

In Figs. 8-9 is shown a form of the invention in which the platform disc is rotatable for the purpose of clearing its peripheral recesses. A long narrow strip 50 of light-gauge metal is bent, as best shown in Fig. 8, to provide a horizontal bar or portion 51, handle extension 52, overhang 53 and a retainer leg 54, the latter three portions of strip 50 being, both structurally and functionally, similar to, respectively, handle extension 20, overhang 21 and retainer leg 30 of previous figures. The disc 10, Figs. 8-9, is rotatively mounted by a central rivet 55 to horizontal bar 51; and it is provided with peripheral recesses 11. To clear the peripheral recesses 11, the de vice is removed from the pipe and disc 10 turned relative to the held strip 50; rotation of the disc causes the side edges of horizontal strip 51 to scrape the tarry substance oif the top surface of disc 10' and this will often act partially to clear its peripheral recesses 11.

The device may be implemented with provisions for a filter, as is shown in Fig. 10 wherein the filter 3 is in the form of a plug or disc of substantial filtering thickness in underlying relation to the horizontal strip 51 of the device. Disc or plug 3, which is made of porous clay or the like, has a small central protuberance 2 which is forced into a central aperture 16 in strip 51. An alternative manner of retaining the filter plug 3 in un derlying relation to a platform disc 10 is shown in Fig. 11, wherein a. spring finger 17, integrally connected to disc 10 at a point shown in Fig. 11 as diametrically opposite handle extension 20, depends in underlying position relative to the underside of platform disc 10. The distance between the distal end of spring finger 17 and the underside of platform disc 10 is slightly less than the thickness of the filter plug 3, so that the latter must be forced between disc 10 and finger 17 to be securely held therein by virtue of the resiliency of the metal.

The spring finger 17 need not be disposed diametrically opposite handle extension 20, as it is in Fig. 11, but may be disposed at any point about the disc 10. However, where the spring finger is placed diametrically opposite handle extension 20 (as it is in Fig. 11), the retainer leg of Figs. 1-5 cannot be employed and other means for securing the device to the pipe bowl must be used. In Fig. 11 this holding means is a downwardly-bent spring finger 27 at the upper end of handle extension 20. The distance between the distal end of spring finger 27 and the handle extension is somewhat less than the customary thickness of pipe bowls, so that in inserting the device within the pipe bowl, the wall thereof is forced between spring finger 27 and handle extension 20 to securely hold the device in place by virtue of the resiliency of the metal. It will be apparent that the spring-finger retainer 27 of Fig. 11 may also be used in the case of the devices having no filter provision.

The spring-finger 17 (Fig. 11) and the retainer leg 30 (Fig. 2) may be employed together and both disposed diametrically opposite extension handle 20. This form of the invention is shown in Fig. 12 wherein the retainer leg 30 is tongued out of a wider strip 40 integrally connected to the disc at a point diametrically opposite to extension 20. The narrower retainer leg 30 is bent upwardly to the form as already described and seen in Fig. 1, for example, to form a bowl-engaging spring finger integral with and rising from disc 10. The marginal portions of strip 40 lying to either side of upturned finger 30 are bent downwardly at their juncture with disc 10, each to the form of filter-securing finger 17 shown in Fig. 11. By virtue of tonguing out retainer leg or finger 30, a central opening 43 remains in the strip 40, which open ing extends from the juncture with platform disc 10 to.

the distal ends 47 of the spaced down-turned filter-securing fingers.

I claim:

In a device for use in a pipe having a bowl of predetermined inside diameter and wall thickness, and a heel, in combination, a platform disc of diameter less than said bowl diameter, a handle extension integrally connected to the disc at a juncture of substantial extent and itself of substantial width, the distal portion of said extension being bent away from the disc to provide an overhang to rest on the top of the pipe bowl, the dimension of the handle extension between its said disc juncture and its said overhang being predetermined to dispose the platform disc above said heel of the pipe, the periphery of the platform disc being provided with a plurality of spaced incisions presenting peripheral air passages, the peripheral sectors formed between said spaced incisions being twisted out of the plane of the base of the disc to provide flutes having circumferential cutting edges inclined to said plane, spaced down-turned fingers integral with said disc and shaped to secure a filter element beneath said disc, and a bowl-engaging spring finger integral with and rising from said disc at a position between said spaced fingers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 578,881 Kaldenberg Mar. 16, 1897 647,122 Voit et al Apr. 10, 1900 1,280,703 Fugere Oct. 8, 1918 1,292,648 Reynolds Ian. 28, 1919 1,531,582 Teberg Mar. 31, 1925 1,540,028 Maeda June 2, 1925 1,651,790 Veress Dec. 6, 1927 1,792,886 Allinson Feb. 17, 1931 2,563,349 McAllaster Aug. 7, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 261,185 Great Britain Nov. 18, 1926 407,452 Great Britain Mar. 22, 1934 

